Fastener guiding attachment for sewing machines



Aug. 5, 1952 v. OSTERTAG 2,605,728

FASTENER GUIDING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed May 14, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet l F IGQI INVEN TOR.

VICTOR OSTER'IACF YVAC ATTORNEY.

Aug. 5, 1952 v. OSTERTAG 2,605,728

FASTENER GUIDING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed May 14, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 lll l IHKH Il AI 1' y 1 IIIWWHHIIW 33 I w :83

1NNTOR 85 VICTOR OSTERTAG ATTORNEY Aug. 5, 1952 v. OSTERTAG 2,605,728

FASTENER GUIDING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed May 14, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ll Ill .FIGlH INVENTOR. k :3 VICTOR OSTERTAG BY C. W

ATTORNEY.

V. OSTERTAG FASTENER GUIDING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING" MACHINES Filed May 14, 1949 Aug. 5, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I INVENTOR. VICTOR 'OSTERTAG ATTORNEY.

Aug. 5, 1952 v, QSTERTAG 2,605,728

. FASTENER GUIDING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed May 14. 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

- I VICTOR OSTERTAG AT TORNEY.

v Patented Aug. 5, 1952 7 i raf vnp Illinois 11 Application May 14, 1949,fseria1 Natalee-4* ,fgil z Claims. (Cl. LUZ-136i This invention pertains to sewing .machines,

andinone of its more specific aspects, to a sewing machine attachment mechanism. adapted toguide elements ofl -a slide fastenervunit disposed along a lineftransv'erse to a linecof stitch- 3 ing in the 'course of formingi-theii stitching by the sewing machine needle and associated/devices in a piece of workjthat includes the fastener unit. .l V While" thei mechanismh of this invention is adapted to beadvantageously employed in stitching together various-arrangements of parts including a fastener unitin a piece of work, it is particularly useful in simultaneously sewing. a waistband on a pair'of trousers and securing an end of a slide fastenerstripu-nit place between the edge of the waistband and the edge of the main trouser body. At the. time that the waistband is secured in. such an arrangement of parts, the slide fastener unitis-disposed transverse to the line of feed, that is; transverse to the-line of stitchin'gbeing formed by the sewing machine'ineedle and associated elements, and is positioned .between the: waistband? parts as the waistband passes the needle. i- .t Experiencehas-demonstrated that; unless conventional metallic fastener elementsof the fastener unit are properlyiguided. as they are;moved past the needle, theneedleamay strike one of the fastener elements, and a consequence, the

needle oftentimesis damaged or broken. Even if the needle is only slightly burredias a result of striking a fastener element, it will not thenceforth coactwith :other parts in theformation of proper stitches. This necessitates replacement of such needles and costly delays, in production Also, it isv apparent that needle breakage due to striking a fastener element may, endanger the-operator... V

' .The present invention obviates the foregoing difiiculties asit properly; guides fastener elements so as to permit-the sewing machine needle to stitch acrossthe fastenerliunitwithout striking any of such elements. .To this end, the guiding mechanismof theinvention comprises a'device including a finger 'so constructed and arranged as to be'readil'y swung.;intozor.out ofxservice immediately in advance of the needlefor guiding the fastener? elements at the proper'time in the course. of forming stitches across the unit. "The finger, when in operative position; engages .and guides. adjacent? fastener: elements,. but permits the needle to pass between those elements. :JEEhe device is adapted to 5be:placed' into I and; outliof service at the will; of theoperator, aandzis SEWING MACHINES J-Evmtbi Ostertag, Qshkosh, Wis., assignor to Union Special Machine Company, Chicago, 111., a cor-,

tended tdbein activeser ice only for the interval or a portion ofthe interval oftime during which the fastener unit is being fed past the needle; At other times, the device is swung to an inactive or inoperativep'o'sition away from the stitch-forming devices, thereby permitting" the carrying out of conventional sewing operations without interfering with or obstructing the work or retarding normal operations.

A primary object of-the invention to expedite the joining together of a slide fastener'unit and other parts along a line across the fastener unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sewing machine attaching mechanism adapted to facilitate the formati'on .ofa' line of stitches acrossa s'li'de fastener unit in'the course of stitching'to'gether partsof' a piece of work including the fastener unit.

Another objectof the invention is to provide an attaching mechanism of the character indicated, that is adapted. to be readily placed into and out: of active service-at the will of the opermen J Another object of theinvention is .to minimize thepossibility of damage or breakage to a sewing machine needle or associated devicesin the course of formings'titches across a slide fastener unit.

The inventionhas for another object the provision of asewingf machine slide fastener guiding attachment that may be readily and quickly mounted on orjremoved from a sewing machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a 'mechanismiof the character indicated, that is adapted toperform itsintended functions. in an effective and trouble-free manner; V

A further object of the invention is to provide a sewingrmachine slide fastener guiding mechanism that is relatively simple indesign, sturdy in construction and reasonable in manufacturing Figurel'is a view ing front elevation of a fiat bed sewing machine having an arrangementof devices embodying the invention operatively associated therewith, certain parts that are not machine and certain other parts shown in Fige ure I being removed for better illustration of devices mounted on the work'support of :the' sew ing machine;

Figure IV is an enlarged fragmentary view. in

side elevation of Figure I, as observed from the left thereof, and illustrates the cooperative re- 4 usual manner on a horizontally disposed top 33 of a suitable supporting structure not otherwise shown. Top 33 is provided with a through aperture 34.

An arrangement of devices that constitutes a recommended form of fastener guiding attachmerit mechanism constructed in accordance with this invention will' now be described, reference being had initially to Figures I and III. In

0 this connection, a cloth plate cover or support 35 --is mounted on base I!) immediately adjacent throat plate 3'! and is detachably secured to the base by a latch 36. Attachedto coverplate 35 byscrews 31 is a'second plate 38. A bracket 4|] lationship of the presser foot, the needle and the guide finger of the guiding mechanismf' Figure V is an enlarged fragmentary view 0 Figure III andshows'onerelatiYeposition of certain parts in the course, of feeding apiece of work through the sewing imachineg" 1 Figure 'VI corresponds to-Figurev and shows another relative position of the parts illustrated therein; and '1 1 Figure VII is an enlarged viewgin vertical'cross section taken along line 1+Iof Figure V.

Referring now to i the drawings; wherein like reference numerals denoteycorresponding parts through the several vviews, and more particularly .to FiguresI and II, I have'iillustrated therein a fiat bed type sewing machine, generally indicated by numeral l0 andcomprisinga base I I, the top of which is planar and constitutes a work support 12. Extending upwardly of the ,baseisa hollow standard l3 that carries an integralhollow overhangin arm [4 having :a depending head 15. Vertically reciprocable within head I5 is a needle bar It to which is removably attached a conventional needle [1. VA sewing machine of this general type isdisoolsed in F. F. Zeier' Patent 1,843,188, entitled Sewing Machine, to which reference may be had for an understandingof an arrangement of devices, not shownherein, for driving needle 11. l

Parallel to needle bar l6 :ista presser bar that carries an open-toed presser foot 21 at its lower end. As is best shown in Figures VI and VII, the presser foot is provided with an elongated slot 22 that extends rearwardlyof its front edge 23. Mounted. on overhanging .arm M for yieldingly urgin 'pres'ser bar 20 and, therefore, presser foot 2| downwardly is a presser mechanism 24 which includes a horizontallydisposed leaf spring 25. One end of the leaflspring is se cured to the overhanging arm by an anchoring stud 26 (Figure III). A thumb nut 21 engages a threaded vertical stem 28 which is attached to overhanging arm 14 and extends through a central aperture in the leaf spring... Reference. may be had to F. A. Kucera Patent 2,103,470, entitled Presser Mechanism for Sewing Machines, for further details as to the construction and opera-, tion of the presser mechanismherein illustrated.

A feed dog 30 is positioned in base ll directly below presser foot 2|, and is encompassed by a throat plate 3| (Figure III). The feed dog is preferably actuated by a mechanism 32 of the four-motion type that may be the same as or similar to the feeding mechanism illustrated and described in A. J. Wohlpart Patent 1,817,727, en-

for Sewing Mabe mounted in the is secured toplate 38 by a pair of screws 4| and is provided with a pair of spaced-apart parallel arms 42 that support a freely rotatable stub shaft 43. A member or lever 44 engages stub shaft 43 and is secured thereto by a set screw 45. As will be apparent from an examination of Figure III, lever 44 is pivotalaboutztheaxis ,of stub shaft 43, which axis is normal to the path of reciprocation of=needle l1., @511: i" A fastener guiding devicev 4fi-is.pivotal about the axis of .a stud screw .41. that is attached to the free end of. lever 44, and that is. normal to the axis of stub .shaft 143.. ,Guidingqdevic e 46 includes a body .50 formed witha stop shoulder 5| and a series of teeth 52, arranged along an arc of a circlethat .is concentric, with the. axis of stud screw 41. .Integralwith :body 50 is a generally hook-shaped member 53:that terminates in a tapered wedge-like guidefinger 54- (Figures II andIV). 1.3% 711::

Lever 44 isprovided .at :.its free 'end withan upstanding extension'"55,-which carries .astop screw 56 for adjustably limiting. pivotal move- ,ment of device 46. ina. clockwise ;direction, as viewed in Figure V; The. stop screw is maintained 'in preselected position :by a lock nut 51. The upper or free end portion of, extension projects laterally and is positionedzimmediately above a horizontal armx58 thatis. attached to a collar 59 which iscarried by presser bar 20 (Figures I, II and IV). arrangement permits the raising of lever and, therefo'ragui'ding device 46 simultaneous with'the. raising of. the presser bar andpresserjootil. :11: -A bell crankior armzfillzis pivota1ly:oonnected to lever 44 byastud'screw fil andisprovided at one end with an arcuate'rackGZ, the teeth of which mesh'with teeth52-of device 46, whereby pivotal movement of the bell crank about stud screw 6| imparts correspondmg pivotal move-:

5 ment of device 46 about vits-stud "screw '41. A

laterally extending arm 63 is attached to lever by screws (i4. A spring 65 is connectedat. one end to arm 63 and at its otherend to a pin 66 carried by plate 38. This spring isstressed in 0 tension and normallyurg'es. bell crank 601 in a clockwise direction of; rotation; as viewed in Figure III. A stop pin 61,extendingupwardly from plate 38, limitsxclo'ckwise rotation. of bell crank 60, as viewed in Figure III; An upright, post 70 is affixed to plate 38 andxextendsl through "and beyond a slot" in lever;44.' :Post 10 is threaded at its upperend to engage aknurled thumb nut 72. Ahelioal spring l3concentric with' post 10 bears at its opposite ends .againstrlever 44 and thumb nut 12 to normallyitand-iiyieldingly urge lever. and the devicesimountedithereon in a downward direction aboutlntheaaxis of stub shaft 43. i .4;

B'ell crank 60' is'adapted 'to be rotated about pivot screw .6! .in a counter-clockwise direction,

leytl; An'ainverted"u-shaped. bracket 82' ismounted the fastener.

'14 supported. onitop. 33. andhaVing; a I vertical through:.-aperture li'that isiin alignmentwflih aperture'SA' in the top... A pulley bracket I6, consistingl of azbase .11.:andafipair. of parallelspaced arms .'I.8,:-.is;;attached to the block. by. screws 19. Dispose'dihetween bracket arms lfitandrotatable about .a .piniflll carried by these arms a- .pul-

against theaunder surface of topv33 and includes .a'pair of spacedpara-llel: arms. 83 which support a rockishaft 84.1 A collar85' isattachedto. each .end of the rockshaft to prevent axial. movement of the shaft. Apair of blocks 86 and 81 embrace the rock shaft intermediate bracket arms,8 3' and are angularl'y and axially adjustable with respect to the rock shaft through the medium of set screws 88 and 89, respectively. Extending radially of block 86 is a rod 9|). A flexible cable 9| is connected at one end to the free end of rod 90, extends upwardly through apertures 34 and 75, passes over pulley 8|, andis connected at its other end to bell crank 60. ;A second rod 93 is attached to block 81 by a set screw 94. A knee pad member 95 ,is adjustably attached to the lowerend portion of rod 93 by a set screw 96.

As is best shown in Figures V and VI, a roller I is freely rotatable about a horizontally disposed stud screw IIJI thatis carried by the-free end portion of-arm B3. A cam member IE2, having a camming upper surface. IE3, is mounted on plate 38 by screws I04 (Figure II). The roller is adapted to bear against the upper surface of plate 38 when the parts. are in the relative position shown in Figure 'V, and to ride upwardly along camming surface I I13 in the course, of movement of bell crank 60 from the position shown in Figure V to that shown in Figure VI.

I have shown in Figures V and VI a portion of the fabric of a trouser body I05 including a fly strip I06. Secured to strip I06 by rows of stitching I01 is a conventional slide fastener unit I08 consisting of a tapestringer I09 and a series of. fastenerelements IN). 'A preformedfabric unit I I I (Figures VI and VII) comprises .a waistband.

IIZ stitched to a waistband lining strip II3 and to a waistband reinforcing strip I I l, as indicated at II5. Reinforcing strip H4 is superposed on lining strip II3, a portion H6 of the lining strip being folded over the reinforcing strip and se- I cured thereto by a row of stitching III. In FigureVI there is shown a belt loop I I8 secured to.

the waistband.

For the purpose of briefly outlining the mode of operation of the illustrated apparatus, it; is assumed that the same is being used to join fabric unit II I to trouser body I05 and that fastener unit I68 and the other parts of the piece of work are in the'relative position shown in'Figure V. The line of stitching being formed by the sewing machine is indicated at I20, and as is shown in Figure VI, this line of stitching is transverse to It is further assumed that the parts of the guiding mechanism are in the relastud 41.

pivotal connectionsto position the free end of otal connections. topositionthe free end; of the live position shown in Figure VI. This is the.

a lever pivotally connected to the support, a

75.;- lever' in ene direction about its-pivotal -connecthe guiding. mechanisms-is ..maintained out of service until" fastenenelements: I I'll approach the needle: At-thattime. the operator presses pad member .95 with. his knee',.imparting counterclockwise. pivotal movement to rock shaft 6 1 (Figure I).i.andsactuating, flexiblecable 9 I so as to impart: counter clockwise vrotation to bell crank fill/about pivot stud 6] against the action ofrspring'*65, thereby imparting. clockwise rotation toguiding' device flfisa'bout' itsxpivotal stud 41. Simultaneous with the foregoing, roller I60 rides downwardly along cam I02 and lever 44 is swung in a downward direction; :It will thus be noted that actuationv of the knee: pad'memberQS,

as indicated, results-in a combined downward and pivotal. movement of guiding: device 46 and, therefore, finger 64,. The finger-isso constructed and arrangedv that asit moves downwardly and arcuately, it'enters in; the space between. adjacent fastener elements I II] and aligns this space passes betweenthe aforementioned adjacent fastener elements. After the fastener unit and associated fabrics have been fed. past; the .needle, the operator, releasesknee pressure on pad :member-65, whereuponvthe-partsof the attachment mechanism" are returned to inactive position (Figure .VI) byspring 65,-

Thus; it, will be seenjthat. the, construction herein shown and described: is well adapted to accomplish the objects of; the present invention. It will be understood, however,v that the invention may be embodied otherwise than here shown, and that in the .form illustrated certain obvious changes in construction may be, .made. Therefore, I:do not wish to ,be limited precisely to the construction herein shown except as, may berequired by the, appended claims considered with reference to the prior art.

. 1. In a sewing machine attachment mechanism that is adapted to guide fastener elements of aslidefastener'unit disposed along a line gen-. erally transverse to' ali ne of stitching in the course of formingsuch stitching by the -sewing machine needle and associated elements in a piece of work which includes the fastener unit, a support adapted to -be mounted on the sewing machine, a lever pivotally connectedto the. support, a fastener guiding device including a. finger having a. free end and pivotallyconnected .to the lever, means connected to the lever for movin the. lever and the device in directions about said the finger adjacent and to the side of the needle oppositepreviously formed stitches, and means connected to the lever .for moving the lever and the devicein reverse directions about said pivfinger away from the needle. 4

2. In a sewing machine attachment mechanism that is adapted to guide fastener elements of a slide fastener unit disposed along a line generally transverse to a line of stitching in thecourse-of forming such stitching. by the. sewing machine needle and associated elements iii-apiece, of :work which includes the fastener unit, a support adapted to be mounted on the sewing machine,

tion-. with.-the supportandlthedevice in a corresponding direction. about itspivotal connection withtheleveri to positiontthe free end of the .finger .away from the needleand above the work,

andimeans connectedto the'leve'rfor moving the lever. and device. in reverse directions about; said pivotal. connections. against. .the action of said first-mentioned means to swingsthe free end of the finger toward the. work and" to the sideof the -neejdle.-oppositei previously: formed stitches.

I 3. In asewing. machine attachment ofthe class described,. a support adapted to be mounted on the sewing machineaarlever pivotally .connected to the support, first .mean'sior'normally urging the lever in'one direction about its pivotal connection with the support, -.a.fastener guiding de-. vice pivotally connected toithe lever, said device includinga finger having a free end, second means for'normally urging the device :in one direction about its pivotali connection with the lever, and means connected to the lever for simultaneously moving the lever and device in reverse directions=about corresponding pivotal connections against the action of: the first and second means; 1

.4. In an attachment mechanism for a sewing machine which has a reciprocable needle,a lever adapted .to be mounted.on-the sewing machine and pivotal about a first axis that is generally normal to the path of reciprocation of the needle, first. means for normally urging the'lever in one direction about said first axis, a fastener guiding device carried by and pivotal with respect to the lever about'a second-axis normal to said first axis, said devic'e including a finger having a free end disposed to the side of said second axis remote from said first-axia'second means for normally urging'the device in one direction about said second axis, and means for simultaneously moving the lever and-the device in reverse directions about said first and second-axesjrespectively, against the action of said first and second means.

5.-In an attachment mechanism for a sewing machine which has a reciprocable needle, a lever adapted to be mounted -on the sewing machine and pivotal about-a first axis that'is' generally normal to the path ofreciprocation of the needle, a'fastener device carried by andpivotal with respect to the lever about a second axis normal to said first axis, said device including a finger having a free end disposed to the side of said second axis remote from said firstaxis, means normally and simultaneously urging the lever in one direction about said first axis and the device in a corresponding direction about said second axis to position the free end of the finger away from the needle, and means for movingthe leverand the device in'reverse directions about said axes against the action of said first-mentioned meansffor normally and simultaneously impart'' ing'pivotalmovement to'the lever in one directionaboutsaid'first axis andto the device in acorresponding direction'a'bout said second axis,

said means comprisingan arm pivoted to the lever about a-third axis, means for-normally imparting movement to the-arm in one direction about said third axisand means responsive to movement of the arm in 'said'on'e direction for -7.: An attachment mechanism of the character described-comprising a support, a lever pivoted to the support about a horizontal first axis, a

guiding device pivoted to the lever about. a second axis normal to said firstiaxis, and means for normallyand simultaneously imparting pivotal movement to the lever in one direction about said first axis and to the device in 2. corresponding direction about said second axis, said'means comprising an arm pivoted to the'lever' about a third axis that is parallel to said second axis, means for normallyiimparting movement to the arm in one. direction about said third axis and means responsive to movement of the arm in said one direction for imparting movement to the lever and to the device in said one direction and corresponding direction, respectively.

8. An attachment mechanism of thecharacter described comprising a support, a lever pivoted to the support about a horizontal first axis, a guiding device pivoted to the lever about a second axis normal to said first axis, an arm pivoted to the lever about a third axis parallel to said second axis and intermediate said first and second axes, resilient means for normally imparting movement to the arm in one direction about said third axis, means responsive to movement of the arm in said one direction for swinging the lever upwardly about said first axis and for imparting pivotal movement to the device in one direction about said second axis, and means operable against the action'of the resilient means for simultaneously imparting downward movement to the lever about said first axis and pivotal movement to the device in a reverse direction.

9. An attachment mechanism of the character described comprising a support, a lever disposed above and havingone end pivoted to the support about a first axis, means for normally urging the lever in one direction about said first axis, a guiding device pivoted to the other end of the lever about a second axis, an arm pivoted to the lever about a third axis parallel to said second axis and intermediatesaid first and second axes, resilient means for normally imparting movement to the arm in one direction about said third axis, means including camming means responsive to movement of the arm in said one direction for swinging the lever in a reverse direction about said first axis against the action of said first-mentioned means and for imparting pivotal movement to the device in one direction about said second axis, and means operable against theaction of the resilient means for simultaneouslyimparting movement to the lever about said first axis -.in.said one direction and pivotal movement to the device in a reverse direction.

10. An attachment mechanism of the character described comprising a support, a lever disposed aboveand having one end pivoted to the support about a horizontal first axis, means for normally urging the lever downwardly about said first axis, a guiding device pivoted to the other end of the lever about a second axis normal to said first axis, an arm pivoted to the lever about a third axis parallel to said second axis and intermediate said first and, second axes, resilient means for normally imparting movement to the arm in one direction about said third axis, means responsive to movement of the arm in said one direction for swinging the lever upwardly about said first axis against the action of said firstmentioned means and for imparting movement to the device in one direction about said second axis, and means operable against the action of the resilient; means for simultaneously imparting downward movementto the lever about said first axis and pivotal movement to the device in a reverse direction.

11. An attachment mechanism of the character described comprising a support, a lever disposed above and having one end pivoted to the support about a horizontal first axis, means for normally urging the lever downwardly about said first axis, a guiding device pivoted to the other end of the lever about a second axis normal to said first axis, an arm pivoted to the lever about a third axis parallel to said second axisv and intermediate said first and second axes, resilient means for normally imparting movement to the arm in one direction about said third axis, means responsive to movement of the arm in said one direction for swinging the lever upwardly about said first axis against the action of said firstmentioned means and for imparting movement to the device in one direction about said second axis, a first stop member carried by the support for limiting pivotal movement of the device in said one direction, means operable against the action of the resilient means for simultaneously imparting downward movement to the lever about said first axis and pivotal movement to the device in a reverse direction, and a second stop member carried by the lever for limiting pivotal movement of the device in said reverse direction.

12. In a sewing machine attachment mechanism that is adapted to guide fastener elements of a slide fastener unit disposed along a line generally transverse to a line of stitching in the- I of the finger adjacent to the side of the needle opposite previously formed stitches, and means connected to the device for moving the device in a reverse direction about its pivotal connection with the support to position the free end of the finger away from the needle and above the fastener unit, said last mentioned means including a stationary cam.

VICTOR OSTERTAG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,069,053 Barron July 29, 1913 1,892,164 Roseman Dec. 27, 1932 1,907,674 Roseman May 9, 1933 1,915,580 Rabinowitz June 27, 1933 1,942,903 Roseman Jan, 9,1934 

